- 08 Jul 2011 06:11
#13751530
An obvious application for such armoured power suits would be equipping some members of assualt pioneer platoons organic to infantry battalions.
Assualt pioneers are expected to fill the role of demonlition specialists under fire. Eg, breaching barded wire, taking out bunkers, clearing mines, etc. Bangalor topedo teams would have a much better chance of surviving to forefill their task wearing such a powered armour suit, for example. Note assualt pioneers don't need to sustain their operations longer than 20 hours. They are employed as the battalion staff see fit, usually to support leading platoons in an assualt or to reinforce thebattalions possitions on the defense.
In Vietnam, Australian battalion commanders would use their assault pioneer platoon to improve the battalion's current possitons by rotationing them through various company positions. The soldiers of those companies greatly appreciated the present of their pioneers. But I degress. This should give those without any military knowledge an idea of the function and duties of assualt pioneers.
Anyway, I think it is not too hard to have a dozen or so suits per battalion. No great increase in logisitical cost.